Definition of a bacterial type IV secretion pathway for a DNA substrate.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 15155952.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/science.1095211 and PMC identifier 3882297.
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Abstract
Bacteria use conjugation systems, a subfamily of the type IV secretion systems, to transfer DNA to recipient cells. Despite 50 years of research, the architecture and mechanism of action of the channel mediating DNA transfer across the bacterial cell envelope remains obscure. By use of a sensitive, quantifiable assay termed transfer DNA immunoprecipitation (TrIP), we identify contacts between a DNA substrate (T-DNA) and 6 of 12 components of the VirB/D4 conjugation system of the phytopathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Our results define the translocation pathway for a DNA substrate through a bacterial conjugation machine, specifying the contributions of each subunit of the secretory apparatus to substrate passage.
Medical subject headings
- Agrobacterium tumefaciens
- Bacterial Proteins
- Cell Membrane
- Conjugation, Genetic
- DNA, Bacterial
- Virulence Factors